Intense heat, high nutrients (from fertilizers or sewer leaks), little rain and lots of evaporation are the perfect conditions for harmful algae blooms like this one on Brashear Creek in Madison. Algae blooms create low dissolved oxygen "dead zones" in the water which can potentially lead to fish kills. Some freshwater blooms are caused by cyanobacteria which have the potential to produce toxins that affect humans, pets, and our ecosystems. **Pets can get very sick and die within hours after swallowing toxins made by harmful algal blooms in bodies of water like lakes and rivers. Do not let your pets drink, play, or swim in water that has signs of a harmful algal bloom.
If you see an algae bloom, please report it to us here: https://www.pearlriverkeeper.com/report-pollution.html

Since the weir at Walkiah Bluff has failed and water flow has been greatly reduced to the East Pearl River, a USFWS representative and our PRK Board member, Jessica Gauley, visited the area in June to check the status of the local mussel population. The East Pearl water level is extremely low and dead mussels are littering the dried-up section of the riverbed. USFWS looked for any mussels listed on the threatened or endangered species list but did not find any. US Army Corps of Engineers representatives were also on the scene and were reported to be monitoring the river level with drones. Jessica said that when she could see what looked like thousands of mussels crowded together in the remaining river water. Photos courtesy: Mike Chapman

Plan to repair weir presented:
​https://www.picayuneitem.com/2022/06/plan-to-repair-weir-presented-elected-officials-seek-more-funding/?fbclid=IwAR3jzE-9zn0u4xOXIUN6lHmJQvGl8PWR_3_YJg09ugNzWrb3uTNnGNAUOXI

​Ross Barnett Reservoir 2022 dredging operations began in May. Phase 1 will include all the subdivisions on the south shore working east to west. Phase 2 will be the three subdivisions on north shore. All channels will be dredged to an elevation of 292 feet above sea level, allowing 5.5 feet of depth at normal pool (297.5) and 4 feet at winter pool (296.0).
15-20 acres of land along Spillway Rd have been clear-cut to create spoil ponds or "confined disposal facilities (CDFs) for the dredged material. The mature timber from the clear-cut was sold by PRVWSD. The spoil from dredging will be pumped to the CDFs via floating pipelines. The CDFs are designed to allow the sediment to settle to the bottom and remain there while the water is slowly released back to the Reservoir. The two CDFs that have been built have interior surface areas of 1 acre and 3 acres. Additional CDFs will be required, and will be constructed as the dredging proceeds.

Operation Shoestring provides year-round academic, social and emotional support to children in central Jackson from pre-K – 12th grade, while supporting and providing resources to their families.  This summer, Pearl Riverkeeper is partnering with Operation Shoestring to provide water education for their Project Rise summer camp.  From Operation Shoestring:  "At our Project Rise summer camp kids like Georgia have empowering, exciting, and enriching experiences that broaden the scope of what she thought was possible in her life. Abby Braman, executive director of Pearl Riverkeeper was the first person Georgia had ever met that worked in environmentalism, and now the Walton Elementary student thinks that maybe she'll grow up to be like her. 'She protects nature, like the turtles. She even holds them! It's so cool,' Georgia reflected when she got to Operation Shoestring.  And it's through these experiences that Georgia and her peers build the foundations of a healthy, hopeful, and self-determined life. Partner with us at operationshoestring.org/support"